18 CORTEZ CAPTAIN GENERAL OF THE ARMADA. 



across the eighteen intervening leagues. But the conspiracy was 

 detected, — the rash ambassador confined in chains, — and only 

 saved from hanging by the interposition of powerful friends. 



Cortez speedily contrived to relieve himself of the fetters with 

 which he was bound, and, forcing a window, escaped from his 

 prison to the sanctuary of a neighboring church. A few days 

 after, however, he was seized whilst standing carelessly in front 

 of the sacred edifice, and conveyed on board a vessel bound for 

 Hispaniola, where he was to be tried. But his intrepidity and 

 skill did not forsake him even in this strait. Ascending cautiously 

 from the vessel's hold to the deck, he dropped into a boat and 

 pulled near ashore, when dreading to risk the frail bark in the 

 breakers, he abandoned his skiff, — plunged boldly into the surf, — 

 and landing on the sands, sought again the sanctuary, whence he 

 had been rudely snatched by the myrmidons of the Governor. 



One of the causes of his quarrel with Velasquez had been an 

 intrigue with a beautiful woman, in whose family the Governor 

 was, perhaps, personally interested. The fickle Cortez cruelly 

 abandoned the fair Catalina Xuares at a most inauspicious moment 

 of her fate, and was condemned for his conduct by all the best 

 people in the Island ; but now, under the influence of penitence 

 or policy, his feelings suddenly experienced a strange revulsion. 

 He expressed a contrite desire to do justice to the injured woman 

 by marriage, and thus, at once obtained the favor of her family and 

 the pardon of the Governor, who becoming permanently reconciled 

 to Cortez, presented him a liberal repartimiento of Indians together 

 with broad lands in the neighborhood of St. Jago, of which he 

 was soon made alcalde. 



The future conqueror devoted himself henceforth to his duties 

 with remarkable assiduity. Agriculture, — the introduction of 

 cattle of the best breeds, — and the revenues of a share of the mines 

 which he wrought, — soon began to enrich the restless adventurer 

 who had settled down for a while into the quiet life of a married 

 man. His beautiful wife fulfilled her share of the cares of life 

 with remarkable fidelity, and seems to have contented the heart 

 even of her liege lord, who declared himself as happy with his 

 bride as if she had been the daughter of a duchess. 



At this juncture Alvarado returned with the account of the 

 discoveries, the wealth, and the golden prospects of continental 

 adventure which we have already narrated. Cortez and Velasquez 

 were alike fired by the alluring story. The old flame of enterprise 



